Imagination, culture, influencers, and God

[watsup]

It is really quite apparent that “God” is a product of human imagination and culture, and where what is now known as “influencers” were quite important. Humans have always had the imagination to “think up” the various extra-natural entities that have been around since the first Homo sapiens, but it is the influencers who took that imagination and firmly planted it in a particular culture that really made a difference. Muhammad, Saul of Tarsus/St Paul, Buddha, Joseph Smith, Billy Graham, many Eastern religion influencers. The list is very long. In the United States, Christianity was inculturated from the very beginning and remains so today.
The point here is the difference between agnostics and atheists, most of whom have indeed been so inculturated almost since birth. Agnostics seem to be holding onto one last string associating them with this culture by affirming the “possibility” that there may be such an entity, while atheists have cut that last string and thus reject the belief in a God or variations thereof, like an Intelligent Designer.

 

[tshade]

It is really quite apparent that “God” is a product of human imagination and culture, and where what is now known as “influencers” were quite important. Humans have always had the imagination to “think up” the various extra-natural entities that have been around since the first Homo sapiens, but it is the influencers who took that imagination and firmly planted it in a particular culture that really made a difference. Muhammad, Saul of Tarsus/St Paul, Buddha, Joseph Smith, Billy Graham, many Eastern religion influencers. The list is very long. In the United States, Christianity was inculturated from the very beginning and remains so today.
The point here is the difference between agnostics and atheists, most of whom have indeed been so inculturated almost since birth. Agnostics seem to be holding onto one last string associating them with this culture by affirming the “possibility” that there may be such an entity, while atheists have cut that last string and thus reject the belief in a God or variations thereof, like an Intelligent Designer.

faith is passed down, and a gift. The tradition / history is there

 

[Overitall]

It is really quite apparent that “God” is a product of human imagination and culture, and where what is now known as “influencers” were quite important. Humans have always had the imagination to “think up” the various extra-natural entities that have been around since the first Homo sapiens, but it is the influencers who took that imagination and firmly planted it in a particular culture that really made a difference. Muhammad, Saul of Tarsus/St Paul, Buddha, Joseph Smith, Billy Graham, many Eastern religion influencers. The list is very long. In the United States, Christianity was inculturated from the very beginning and remains so today.
The point here is the difference between agnostics and atheists, most of whom have indeed been so inculturated almost since birth. Agnostics seem to be holding onto one last string associating them with this culture by affirming the “possibility” that there may be such an entity, while atheists have cut that last string and thus reject the belief in a God or variations thereof, like an Intelligent Designer.

And yet religion still has a hold on you (influence) based on your continued participation in religious threads. When you cut that string you might be able to say you're free from the cultural influence.

 

[MamboDervish]

It is really quite apparent that “God” is a product of human imagination and culture, and where what is now known as “influencers” were quite important. Humans have always had the imagination to “think up” the various extra-natural entities that have been around since the first Homo sapiens, but it is the influencers who took that imagination and firmly planted it in a particular culture that really made a difference. Muhammad, Saul of Tarsus/St Paul, Buddha, Joseph Smith, Billy Graham, many Eastern religion influencers. The list is very long. In the United States, Christianity was inculturated from the very beginning and remains so today.
The point here is the difference between agnostics and atheists, most of whom have indeed been so inculturated almost since birth. Agnostics seem to be holding onto one last string associating them with this culture by affirming the “possibility” that there may be such an entity, while atheists have cut that last string and thus reject the belief in a God or variations thereof, like an Intelligent Designer.

At some point - hopefully in the not too distant future - the billions of souls on Earth whose beliefs remain bound to the ancient texts of the Abrahamic religions will have to face the uncomfortable reality that none of it is true. Does it have any didactic value? Sure ... some. Is any true wisdom contained within those pages? No doubt there is. But is every word of the bible, from Genesis on, inerrant? Is it truly the word of the Divine? Certainly not. Nor is the quran. And it is both dangerous, and breathtakingly naive, to believe otherwise. We need no more proof of that than the current conditions in Gaza.

It may take another 100 years before people finally come to their senses about the reality of "the bible", and "the quran", but that day must eventually come. If only we could share our binoculars with our religious sisters and brothers, and show them the horizon that must, and will, free them from their crippling myopia. We need to develop a "Lasik surgery" for the mind's eye. It will be indispensable if humanity is to navigate it's way toward any brighter, safer and more prosperous future.

 

[Individual]

God(s) and religious stories/texts are some of the earliest proofs of evolution.

 

[Overitall]

God(s) and religious stories/texts are some of the earliest proofs of evolution.

How so?

 

[Individual]

How so?

The stories evolved until eventually written.

 

[Overitall]

The stories evolved until eventually written.

Ok, that makes sense even though I’m not convinced to agree with you.

 

[Individual]

Ok, that makes sense even though I’m not convinced to agree with you.

Fair enough.

 

[tosca1]

It is really quite apparent that “God” is a product of human imagination and culture, and where what is now known as “influencers” were quite important. Humans have always had the imagination to “think up” the various extra-natural entities that have been around since the first Homo sapiens, but it is the influencers who took that imagination and firmly planted it in a particular culture that really made a difference. Muhammad, Saul of Tarsus/St Paul, Buddha, Joseph Smith, Billy Graham, many Eastern religion influencers. The list is very long. In the United States, Christianity was inculturated from the very beginning and remains so today.
The point here is the difference between agnostics and atheists, most of whom have indeed been so inculturated almost since birth. Agnostics seem to be holding onto one last string associating them with this culture by affirming the “possibility” that there may be such an entity, while atheists have cut that last string and thus reject the belief in a God or variations thereof, like an Intelligent Designer.

It is not "apparent" that God is the product of human imagination.

The fact that practically all cultures - even from ancient times - had resorted to worshippng dieties over things they cannot explain or had felt powerless to, suggest that worship is a UNIVERSAL INSTINCT.


That, to worship, becomes a default reaction, isn't a product of human imagination - UNLESS.................. YOU CAN PROVE IT!

 

[Jetboogieman]

It is not "apparent" that God is the product of human imagination.

The fact that practically all cultures - even from ancient times - had resorted to worshippng dieties over things they cannot explain or had felt powerless to, suggest that worship is a UNIVERSAL INSTINCT.

Oooh

Youre so, so close there.

Just gotta connect the dots.

 

[tosca1]

Oooh

Youre so, so close there.

Just gotta connect the dots.

@watsup

Well?


Where's your rebuttal?
How did the OP author know that God is just a product of human "imagination?"

That's quite a big claim on his part, right?


If ancient tribes were threatened by volcanoes - why did they feel like they needed to worship?
They could just move away.

Lol, surely they know the volcano won't be able to follow them.......................right?


Hahahaha reminds me of an old cartoon - the mountain raises its "skirt" and moved to a different location!


Why is "worship," a default stance in humankind?

 

[MamboDervish]

It is not "apparent" that God is the product of human imagination.

The fact that practically all cultures - even from ancient times - had resorted to worshippng dieties over things they cannot explain or had felt powerless to, suggest that worship is a UNIVERSAL INSTINCT.


That, to worship, becomes a default reaction, isn't a product of human imagination - UNLESS.................. YOU CAN PROVE IT!

SUPERSTITION is the universal instinct - the minds need to create an explanation for the otherwise unexplained IS a product of human imagination.

 

[MamboDervish]

Oooh

Youre so, so close there.

Just gotta connect the dots.

+1

 

[tosca1]

SUPERSTITION is the universal instinct - the minds need to create an explanation for the otherwise unexplained IS a product of human imagination.

Superstition (wordnik)
An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.



It's more than just superstition.
Superstition, if tribesmen think that shaking their loin clothes in the wind will shooo away the lava to flow to the other side!

Or, that it'll bring bad luck to the tribe if a mammoth rises up on its hind legs in front of their cave!




We're not speaking about superstition.
We're talking about a .................................................universal inclination to worship!

 

[MamboDervish]

Superstition (wordnik)
An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.



It's more than just superstition.
Superstition, if tribesmen think that shaking their loin clothes in the wind will shooo away the lava to flow to the other side!

Or, that it'll bring bad luck to the tribe if a mammoth rises up on its hind legs in front of their cave!




We're not speaking about superstition.
We're talking about a .................................................universal inclination to worship!

The last time I slaughtered and cooked a goat, the god of the rising river made it subside. If I make another burnt offering to appease that capricious god, maybe the ensuing flood waters won't wipe out my village.

SUPERSTITION !!

By your own definition.

 

[Jetboogieman]

@watsup

Well?


Where's your rebuttal?
How did the OP author know that God is just a product of human "imagination?"

That's quite a big claim on his part, right?


If ancient tribes were threatened by volcanoes - why did they feel like they needed to worship?
They could just move away.

Lol, surely they know the volcano won't be able to follow them.......................right?


Hahahaha reminds me of an old cartoon - the mountain raises its "skirt" and moved to a different location!


Why is "worship," a default stance in humankind?

Your posting style is a good example of why god doesn’t exist.

A good god that cares and exists wouldn’t allow such a heinous thing.

 

[watsup]

We're not speaking about superstition.
We're talking about a .................................................universal inclination to worship!

An “inclination to worship” based on events that were natural but which they did not understand at the time. And yes, that is called SUPERSTITION, after which they constructed MYTHS regarding the events. Thank you for confirming my OP.

 

[tosca1]

The last time I slaughtered and cooked a goat, the god of the rising river made it subside. If I make another burnt offering to appease that capricious god, maybe the ensuing flood waters won't wipe out my village.

SUPERSTITION !!

By your own definition.

I refer to the...........................universal inclination to WORSHIP.

 

[tosca1]

An “inclination to worship” based on events that were natural but which they did not understand at the time. And yes, that is called SUPERSTITION, after which they constructed MYTHS regarding the events. Thank you for confirming my OP.

@MamboDervish


Okay, yes it can fall under superstition.

But.......my issue is about the UNIVERSAL inclination to worship!
Why did they all end up worshipping a deity for any reason?






The fundamental difference between humanity and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. God has essentially wired us this way.
As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has placed "eternity in our hearts."
We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Of course, not everyone worships God. But when you get down to it, everyone worships.
Everyone has built an altar in their lives to someone or something

Wired to Worship

Wired to Worship,Crosswalk.com Writer - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith.

www.crosswalk.com

 

[Jetboogieman]

But.......my issue is about the UNIVERSAL inclination to worship!
Why did they all end up worshipping a deity for any reason?

God you are so close…

But those dots can’t connect themselves.

 

[MamboDervish]

@MamboDervish


Okay, yes it can fall under superstition.

But.......my issue is about the UNIVERSAL inclination to worship!
Why did they all end up worshipping a deity for any reason?






The fundamental difference between humanity and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. God has essentially wired us this way.
As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has placed "eternity in our hearts."
We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Of course, not everyone worships God. But when you get down to it, everyone worships.
Everyone has built an altar in their lives to someone or something

Wired to Worship

Wired to Worship,Crosswalk.com Writer - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith.

www.crosswalk.com

As I've tried to explain - what you identify as "worship" is just the outward expression of FEAR of the rising waters (or ... ___ fill in the blank) brought upon them by SUPERSTITION. In other words, an ignorance of the true underlying causes of events in the world.

Our primitive progenitors did not evolve "worship" when somebody wandered around, came upon an edible nut or berry, and spontaneously decided to bow down, kiss the ground, yell allahu akbar, and give a burnt offering to yahweh in unprovoked gratitude. Polytheism, in one form or another, probably predates monotheism by well over 10,000 years, and it doesn't take much to comprehend the forces that would have driven it.

"The "Lion God" - (thought to be the original head of the sphinx?) - who attacked the tribe near mine last night, didn't eat me or my family! PRAISE HIM! Let us offer a slaughtered lamb in his name!" You get the idea. Or at least you should.

 

[watsup]

@MamboDervish


Okay, yes it can fall under superstition.

But.......my issue is about the UNIVERSAL inclination to worship!
Why did they all end up worshipping a deity for any reason?






The fundamental difference between humanity and animals is that animals don't worship, but people do. God has essentially wired us this way.
As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, He has placed "eternity in our hearts."
We sense there is something more, and it causes us to worship.
Of course, not everyone worships God. But when you get down to it, everyone worships.
Everyone has built an altar in their lives to someone or something

Wired to Worship

Wired to Worship,Crosswalk.com Writer - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith.

www.crosswalk.com

Others have explained this to you now, and you should have been able to figure it out for yourself anyway. The reason that people “worship” is based on their superstitions that if they don’t, then this mysterious god creature will somehow do them harm, or at least not intercede to keep them from harm. Pure superstition, right up to today whereby religionists worship their God because, at least according to Christians, if you don’t have the “faith” to do so, then “he” will not welcome you into heaven. The posts of yours of and Revelation are chock full of such superstitions,

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

It is not "apparent" that God is the product of human imagination.

The fact that practically all cultures - even from ancient times - had resorted to worshippng dieties over things they cannot explain or had felt powerless to, suggest that worship is a UNIVERSAL INSTINCT.


That, to worship, becomes a default reaction, isn't a product of human imagination - UNLESS.................. YOU CAN PROVE IT!

Not worship, but desiring a way to explain what people see and experience.

Thunder to the scientific is understood on what causes it.

To a tribe, they have no idea, but know that they can create large sounds clapping or using a drum. So thunder being far more powerful in its sound must come from something very strong and powerful. Ie a supernatural being that they must keep happy

 

[devildavid]

Superstition (wordnik)
An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.



It's more than just superstition.
Superstition, if tribesmen think that shaking their loin clothes in the wind will shooo away the lava to flow to the other side!

Or, that it'll bring bad luck to the tribe if a mammoth rises up on its hind legs in front of their cave!




We're not speaking about superstition.
We're talking about a .................................................universal inclination to worship!

Superstitious humans have always done things to worship gods they believed in so that the gods would do good things for them. So the worship of gods is part and parcel of superstition. Rituals, idols, incantations, sacrifices, prayers are all part of the same human superstitions of worshipping various gods in order to please them and hope they do good things for them in return. Worship of gods is an act of superstition.